Aggies Go Five With Bryant

BALTIMORE-The
North Carolina A&T volleyball team was one set shy of winning its first
match of the season. That is until something happened with the Aggies' ability
to receive serves. Bryant University posted 21 service aces to defeat the
Aggies 3-2 (17-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-11, 15-8) during final day of the Coppin State
Invitational played at Physical Education Complex on Saturday.

Earlier
in the day, Youngstown State beat A&T in three sets, 25-10, 25-14, 25-15.

"I
thought overall we played fairly decent, we had too many unforced errors in a
couple different categories. By now I
think that's what's separating us from winning matches at this time," said head
coach Hal Clifton. "We've just got to
keep raising the bar and staying with it and keep pushing through."

Senior
Andrea Evans had an outstanding weekend after collecting 23 kills, with a .315
hitting percentage, six service aces, five digs and 19 blocks. She averaged 1.44 kills per set and 1.19
blocks per set in the invitational.

"Andrea
attacked and blocked very well this weekend, which is exactly what we were
hoping to get out of her," Clifton said.

Freshman
Brooke Stamnes totaled a team-best 36 kills and a team-best nine aces during
the invite. Sophomore Aprill McRae had
the best hitting percentage, recording a .333 percentage with 28 kills.

"[Brooke]
struggled a little bit with her hitting efficiency, but she's exciting, she
hits hard and 0.56 service aces and averaging two digs a match is good,"
Clifton said.

Stamnes
led the Aggies with six kills in the Saturday morning loss to Youngstown State.

The
Aggies (0-8) played in their first five-set match since Oct. 1, 2010 during the
afternoon session. Clifton turned to freshman setter Ali Way throughout the
entire match and she responded with 28 assists. Stamnes finished with 10 kills,
and Evans did not make an attack error in 13 attempts, as she finished with
five kills, five service aces (including three straight) and six block
assists.

"Youngstown
had a number of different attackers and they were a very well balanced offense,"
Clifton said. "They kept us on the defensive side way too much. Against Byrant, I felt like we got in a lot
more rhythm attacking early on, and we were able to key on a couple of their
hitters," Clifton said.

Freshman
Te'Borah Hawkins-Hollingsworth, who patrolled the middle for most of the Bryant
match, and Stamnes opened the set with block assists. The Aggies rhythm eventually
resulted in an early 11-6 lead. Bryant called a timeout, but A&T emerged
from the break adding to their advantage.
A service ace by freshman Aleena McDaniel put the Aggies ahead 20-14. Hawkins-Hollingsworth tipped it for another
kill to put the Aggies up by seven.
Stamnes then collected a service ace to secure the 25-17 victory.

In
the second set, an attack error pulled the Aggies to within one at 24-23. But
McDaniel hit the ball into the net on an attack attempt, which tied the set at
1.

Stamnes
gave the Aggies a 21-17 in the third set with consecutive kills. A&T's lead
increased to as many as five, 24-19, with block assists by McRae and Evans.
Bryant scored the next two points before a kill by McDaniel gave the Aggies
their second set win of the match, marking the first time the Aggies have won two
sets in a match this season.

In
the fourth set, Bryant recorded a .417 hitting percentage to force a decisive
final set. In the fifth set, one-third
of Bryant's points came from aces as the team recorded five to complete the
rally.

"We've
made six set wins already, which is two less than our total last year. So we've already started creeping up towards
some of our goals," Clifton said. "To go
five sets and then to play two really close four-set matches with a number of
sets being decided by two points, means that we're getting close to maybe getting over the top
and start feeling like we can win. Even
in those other four-set matches, a point here or a point there, and instead of
losing in four, we're winning in four.
We're that close."

The
Aggies will next hit the court Sept. 7-8 as they co-host the Spartan-Aggie
Invitational with UNC Greensboro. The
Aggies will take on American on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m., before facing UNC Greensboro
at UNCG's Fleming Gymnasium at 11 a.m., on Sept. 8. A&T concludes the
shared invitational with a home match against UNC Asheville at 4 p.m., on Sept.
8.